Psychology of Criminal Behavior

This assignment delves into the psychology of criminal behavior, exploring influential theories like Social Learning Theory and Cognitive Theory. It analyzes factors contributing to criminal activity, such as poverty, lack of employment, and family presence in society. The paper further examines the impact of learning styles (Honey & Mumford) on individual responses to crime. Finally, it discusses the crucial role of public services, particularly police, in mitigating criminal behavior within a positive and flexible work environment.

PSYCHOLOGY OF
BEHAVIOUR

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
LO 3.................................................................................................................................................3
P3 Factors which contribute to criminal activity.........................................................................3
M3 Theories of criminal behavior...............................................................................................4
LO 4.................................................................................................................................................5
P4 Psychological perspectives applied by individuals in public service.....................................5
P5 Application of Physiological Perspectives And Theories To Teams Within Public Services
......................................................................................................................................................7
M4 Psychology is applied by public services to reduce criminal behaviour...............................8
D2 Real Case, Application Of Psychological Theory And Identification Of Causal Factors.....8
D3 Evaluation Of Application Of Psychological Perspective To The Work Of A Range Of
Public Services.............................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Psychology is scientific study of human behavior and mind functions includes
unconscious and conscious phenomena, as well as thought and feeling of person. It is
multifaceted discipline and include many sub areas of human nature study such fields as health,
human development, clinical, cognitive procedure and social behavior. It is a technological
discipline that report mental procedure, states and nature in human or individual in society
(Pennington, 2014). The present report is based on Psychology of behavior which help to
understand person mental activities and behavior with other. This unit explain factors and
influences that contribute in criminal activity and also discuss major theories of criminal
behavior. It clarifies psychological perspectives applied by individuals in public services and
explain psychology applied by public facilities to reduce criminal behavior. This report will
justify psychological perspectives to team and its theory. Furthermore, it explains PP to work of
range of public services.
LO 3
P3 Factors which contribute to criminal activity
Factors basically present in district where crime rates are high include job availability,
police policy, poverty levels and average age of population. Unemployment, stereotypes,
homelessness etc, are also included in elements which make pressure in person mental process
and pull them towards criminal activities.
Poverty and unemployment- statistically, poverty is the main factors that goes hand in
hand with crime. Where poverty is presence in society, that community will face higher stage of
crime or criminal activities. On the other side unemployment is one of the element which also
make impact and contribute to that particular activity because those people who does not have
any job or work they get distract from normal live functions and move towards crime filed.
Poverty and other factors are not leads to high crime score but there are some more things which

associated with poorness such as lack access to quality schools, lack of opportunity and less
employment.
Parental and family social pressures- family background and parental practices make
impact on human behavior during adolescence and childhood, these things contribute in criminal
activity (Shepherd, 2016). Most of the families in community belongs to criminal background in
which they behave unexpected in society which make their negative image and put pressure on
other family members most on the children's mind. Absence of father is individual important
cause of crime, those boys who are family less and fatherless from birth typically goes toward
crime.
Homelessness- Homeless people goes form shelter to shelter were likely than homeless
people live on street to commit violent crimes such as assault and robbery. Homelessness is one
of the another factor which will be contribute in criminal activity the most. Large number of
homelessness drive person or people toward crime in which they try wrong methods or ways
fulfill their needs in life these types of persons are very dangerous and harm anyone around
them.
M3 Theories of criminal behavior
Psychological behavior theory is one of the criminal behavior theories include social
learning theory, cognitive theory and other.
Social learning theory define views that individual's learn by observing others, it
explains how people understand and learn new values, behaviors and attitudes. For example,
teenagers learn slang and behavior by observing their peers. This theory has often been known as
bridge between cognitive and behaviorist learning theories because it comprehends attention,
motivation and memory, it occurs properly through direct or observation instruction. Sutherland's
differential associated model is contained in seven propositions:
 Criminal behavior of people of learned in interaction with other individual in procedure
of communication.
 Criminal action is learned
 Principal portion of learning of criminal activity occurs within close personal groups.
 Differential organization varies in duration, frequency, intensity and priority.

 Criminal nature is expression of basic values and needs, this cannot describe by those
general value and need because non criminal activity will be determinant or efficacious
of learned behavior.
 The procedure of learning criminal behavior by organizations with anti criminal and
criminal patterns includes all mechanisms that are involved in any learning.
 Particular direction of drives and motives is learned from definitions of legal codes as
unfavorable and favorable.
Cognitive theory is analyzed the ideas of cognitive procedure which is the center of
behavior, emotions and thoughts of person. This model is basically based on Aaron beck and
Albert Ellis work which emphasizes what group of people think rather than what they do.
Theorists of cognitive proposed phases of cognitive development that help to explain
delinquency and crime. Lawrence restructure work of Jean Piaget, proposing three stages of
moral development:
 Conventional stage is general in young adults and adolescents and concentrate on society'
expectations and views.
 Pre- conventional phase is common in teenager and concentrated on external
consequences that activity have.
 Post- conventional level is communal in mature person over age of 20 and concentrate on
critical evaluation of moral principles and human rights.
LO 4
P4 Psychological perspectives applied by individuals in public service
There are different approaches in contemporary psychology, perspectives is one its best
approach that includes certain assumptions like beliefs and about people behavior: the way they
act and function. Cross culture perspective, cognitive, behavioral, psycho-dynamic perspectives
etc. are major perspective in psychology. With the help of Honey and Mumford learning style
theory it defines easily how individual psychological perspectives applied in public service.
Characteristics of learning style is divided into four styles:
Activist- Those people who learned by doing something is included in this style. For
example, some person do robbery without any observation and get their hands dirty by killing

someone during criminal activity. These types of people are treated by police in different style
and using methods for pushing them for the crime which they did.
Theorist- These people like to learn and understand theory behind actions, in other words
most of the people do criminal activities or behavior by learning through the others. For
example, criminal background family put pressure on their family members and children's for
work or act like them and involve in crime field where they learn all the bad activities.
Pragmatist- Pragmatist people want to be able to saw how to make learning into practice
in real world. Those persons who are killing someone or group of people, they trained by the
Illustration 1: Honey and Mumford learning styles
(Source: Honey and Mumford, 2018)

others and then apply criminal activities in public areas. This behavior will make trouble for
community and harm another which is very dangerous for all of them. To deal with pragmatist
people police or government make different techniques and tricks like sent them to prison where
most dangerous and serial criminals treated under the high authorities and senior officers.
Reflector- These individual's learn by thinking and observing about what happened
around them, they avoid leaping in and like to watch form sidelines. For example, teenagers
learn violence since childhood because their parent belong with criminal background and build
negative image in society. Thus, for these children's government build prison where they sent for
developing and improving their behavior.
P5 Application of Physiological Perspectives And Theories To Teams Within Public Services
PHYCO-DYNAMIC GROUP THEORY – Phyco-dynamic group is a group of people with
similar types of physiological problems. This group is handle by group leader who is expert in
that particular field which is related to the problems.
There are various types of physiological groups which are as follows -
1. Support Group – In a support group, members of team provide each other various types
of support. They are generally for short term. They do share their experiences with each
other during particular number of sessions.
2. Phycho-Educational Group – It is also a short term group. In this group, members are
educated by physiological professor about the physiological problems. Through this
group, members feel that they are not alone.
3. Self Help Group – Self help groups are the group of people that were formally addicted to
stuffs such as drugs, alcohol etc. and related to the physiology problems. But, now they
have improved and mentor or guide those people who are now facing that physiology
problems (Steers and Sánchez‐Runde, 2017).
SOCIAL IDENTITY THEORY – This theory was propounded by Henri Tajfel. It states that this
theory is all about person's sense and behavior that are based on their identification on group
membership. According to this theory, the world is divided into 2 groups – In-Group and Out-
Group.
In-Group refers to the group where members feel belonging and Out Group refers to the
group where members don't identify their identification. The members of in-group perceive
negative attitude towards out-group members because in-group members think that members of

out-group are different on the basis of cultures, values, society, economy, regions and nationality
etc. These differences boosts the crimes, hates and conflicts between both groups. In-Group are
more focus on the favoritism, on the flip side, Out-group are focus on lack of favoritism. Divide
of people into these two groups depends upon the perception that group follow. If perception of
group members are similar to each others, they will consider as In-group and if perception is
different, they will consider as Out-group (Mathieu and et.al., 2017).
M4 Psychology is applied by public services to reduce criminal behaviour
Public services includes, Police services, law enforcement, social services and other
service that help to reduce criminal activities in society or community. Police services provide
crime prevention, public order maintenance, etc. Kidnapping for money, murder, sexual assault
and false imprisonment are the types of personal crimes (Fledderus, Brandsen and Honingh,
2014). Police service psychology is base on criminal activities of person for example,
Kidnapping for costs if dangerous act or behavior of person in which they harm victim. This
behavior will be developed among nature due to lack of employment in which people cannot
fulfill their needs of life successfully. Police sent them into jail where a lot of people belong with
the same criminal activity.
Thus, to reduce this behavior government give many opportunities to person by provide
employment. With the help of getting jobs in any company a person make their career more
successful and make life better than now. Employment is one of the best psychological approach
that help to reduce crime and build crime less environment in country.
For example, Murder is one of the most dangerous crime which is conducted by those
persons who take drugs and drink alcohol more in their lives.
Thus, to reduce these criminal activities' government and police services take strict action
and sent them to rehab center where they learn who to behave in society and help to reduce
criminal functions.
D2 Real Case, Application Of Psychological Theory And Identification Of Causal Factors
Rational Choice Theory - This theory is known as Choice theory or Rational theory. This theory
provides a foundation of understanding behavior of criminal. This theory states that aggregating
behavior of individual is based on the individual decisions which is focused on few determinants.
It assumes that individual has so many choices but he gives preference to one choice.

In UK, over the past year, it has been identified that Youth crimes are increasing with
passing time in UK. UK government is worrying about that why teens are converting into
criminals.
Causal Factors that influence the youth crimes are as follows -
1. Financial Hardship – Poverty is a major factor that influence the psychology of teenager
and make them criminal. They need money but when they don't have it, they start looking
for wrong ways to earn money. This wrong way lead youth to do crime.
2. Bullying – Bullying itself is crime and also it gives birth to another crimes. Some
psychologies said that the person who got bully become criminal person after some time.
3. Drug and Alcohol Abuse – If minor takes drugs or alcohol. It is considered to be crime.
Drugs or alcohol affect the thinking of youths/teens. This lead to increasing chances of
them to do criminal activities such as theft, rape, murder etc.
4. Lack of Love – Teenagers are the one who needs love and attention from their loved
ones. But if they don't get proper love or attention, they get angry and become violence.
This lead them to committing crimes (Wilson, 2018).
Contributing Factors that influence the youth crimes are as follows -
1. Violence In The Home – Youth become violent, when in childhood they witness the
violent actions at their own home.
2. Lack of Moral Guidance – When parents or another familiar person don't teach child
what is acceptable behavior or what is not acceptable behavior. This lack of moral
guidance further lead them to do criminal actions (Neff, 2017).
D3 Evaluation Of Application Of Psychological Perspective To The Work Of A Range Of Public
Services
1. Create and clearly define to public service provider that what is acceptable behavior and
non – acceptable behavior. Apply these rules to all the level of management in the service
units.
2. If any provider is doing something wrong. Don't give punishment him directly. Firstly
understand him and root cause behind his behavior and solve the cause.
3. Give knowledge and education about the psychological theories, behaviors and
perspectives to the key staffs, managers and leaders so that they can identify the

psychological negative change on time and take action immediately to reduce the impact
of psychological changes.
4. Public service units' head should focus on the accomplishments rather than tasks. Focus
on accomplishments lead to recognition which is important factor for any employees.
Without any recognition, employees become frustrate which impact his thinking and
behavior.
5. Public service units should establish a positive and flexible work culture. This kind of
working environment lead to good human behavior, which increases the employee
engagement, employee relationship and employee understanding towards organization
(Feldman, 2016).
CONCLUSION
The present report discuss about the meaning of psychology of behavior and factors such
as family presence in society, poverty, Lack of employment and other factors that contribute to
criminal activity. This report has been concluded the Social learning theory and cognitive theory
in term of criminal behavior theories. Activist, Pragmatist, Reflector and Theorist are the
learning style of Honey and Mumford theory in which people react deferentially and do crime
base on their activities. In this study discuss about the role of public services such as police
service in field of reducing criminal behavior. Furthermore, is covered all the information of
psychological theory and perspectives that applied to work for number of public facilities.

REFERENCES
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Online
Honey and Mumford, 2018.[ONLINE].Available through:
<https://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/doctoralcollege/training/eresources/teaching/
theories/honey-mumford>